The volume contains a collection of biographies of 'noteworthy persons' within the political jurisdiction of the Residency in the Persian Gulf. There is some limited correspondence related to the collection of this information, which includes applications made by Edward Charles Ross, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, to the following:Samuel Barrett Miles, Political Agent and Consul at Muscat.L Gabler, Deputy Director of the Persian Gulf Telegraphs/in Political Charge of the Gwadur [Gwādar] Agency.The Residency Agent, Bahrain.The majority of the biographies have been submitted via standardised forms with entries for the following; name, father, wife, tribe, residence, and children. Each entry has a biographical history for each subject, while some have both an entry in Arabic, and an entry in English (i.e. a translation). At the back of the volume is a single entry in Persian. The returns for Oman — supplied by the Political Agent and Consul at Muscat — do not follow this format, and are instead supplied as manuscript biographical histories.The entries are arranged into sections. The first section is not labelled, but may represent the returns from Gwadur. The remaining biographies fall under the following sections:Unlabelled section.Office Copies - Busrah [Basra].Office Copies - Bahrein [Bahrain].Office Copies - Coast of Fars.Office Copies sent to the Foreign Office.For Office Record.It is noted that the biographical information from the Deputy Director of Persian Gulf Telegraphs (i.e. Gwadur) was compiled by Mr McDonall.1 volume (430 folios)The biographies are arranged by the region they were returned from, while other copies are arranged by their intended destination/use. These sections are ordered as follows:Unlabelled section.Office Copies - Busrah [Basra].Office Copies - Bahrein [Bahrain].Office Copies - Coast of Fars.Office Copies sent to the Foreign Office.For Office Record.The very first section is not labelled, but possibly represents the returns from Gwadur [Gwādar].Correspondence related to the collection of this information is interspersed throughout the file, though it is primarily located at the front and back of the volume.Condition: A large number of folios have suffered from minor pest and water damage. As a result, some of the folios are very fragile, and some of the text has also been obscured, which can result in difficulties interpreting affected text.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The volume contains the following foliation corrections; f 69, and f 69A; f 71, and f 71A.
This file contains correspondence between British officials and the various chiefs of the Trucial Coast regarding arrangements concerned with runaway sailors and divers in the area.The file contains several letters and other documents in Arabic (with English translations) sent from the British Agent at Sharqah [Sharjah], Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed, to the British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Edward Charles Ross.The file also contains original letters in Arabic (with some English translations) from the following regional rulers:Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chief of AjmanZayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chief of Abu DhabiHumayd bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Chief of Ras Al KhaimahAhmad bin Abdullah Al Mu'alla, Chief of Umm Al QaiwainSalim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chief of SharjahHushr bin Maktoum, Chief of DubaiThe file contains an English translation of an agreement between the British and the chiefs of Sharjah, Ajman, Dubai, Umm Al Qaiwain, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah signed in June 1879 (folios 117-118).1 volume (230 folios)The file is arranged chronologically, with the earliest letter at the beginning of the file and the most recent letter at the end.Condition: A bound volume.Foliation: The file's main foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A second mixed foliation/pagination sequence runs in parallel between ff 3-227; these numbers are written in either blue or red crayon, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio, along with sometimes the corresponding top left of the verso side.The file contains the following foliation errors: 81, and 81A; 113, and 113A; 179, and 179A and the following omissions: 142.
The volume contains letters sent to the British Resident at Bushire. The subject matter of the correspondence centres around the administration of the Bushire Residency, and company operations in the area. It therefore covers the wider commercial and political interests of the East India Company in the Persian Gulf, alongside those of the British Government during this period. This includes international relations between the British and the principal powers of the region; e.g. Persia, the Ottoman Empire, Muscat and Oman. It also concerns itself with piracy (as defined by British authorities) in the Persian Gulf; details of a British expedition which attacked Ra's al-Khaymah in 1819, and aimed to suppress 'piratical acts' in the region, can be found within.The volume does not cover the full time span indicated by the date range with the majority of the correspondence being from the period between 20 November 1816 to 29 December 1819. There are also a few letters inserted into the back of the volume of a much later date — January and February 1874 — sent to the British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf via the office of the Assistant Resident. This correspondence concerns the financial affairs of the bin Rejubs [Bin Rajab] in Bahrain. The period from 1820 and 1873 is therefore not represented in this volume.The majority of the correspondence is in English with only a few items in Arabic towards the end of the volume.1 volume 272 items (162 folios)The letters are arranged chronologically by date received at Bushire, from 22 November 1816 to 29 December 1819. The last few letters in the volume are unrelated to this arrangement, and date January and February 1874; they are arranged in reverse order by date created. There is therefore a chronological jump near the end of the volume from 29 December 1819 to 22 February 1874.Foliation: The file has been foliated in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio with a pencil number. The foliation begins on the first folio of writing and ends on the last folio of writing.Pagination: The volume also has an original incomplete pagination sequence which consists of numbers in the top outermost corner of each page. The sequence which uses both ink and pencil numbers starts on the first folio of writing, with the number 1, and runs through to 151 (folio 76). The sequence continues on the verso of folio 77, with page number 152 and continues to folio 146 with number 283, however the numbering omits folios 80v-81v, 96v-97 and 130v-131.Condition: The file has suffered some pest damage, the individual folios which have been affected are recorded in the item level descriptions.
The letter is conveying a request for the detention of Hajee Abbas bin Mahomed [Hājjī ‘Abbās bin Aḥmad] in Bahrain. It is noted that this request was forwarded to Major Charles Grant, 1 Assistant Resident, via memo No. 189/103 of 1874 dated 17 February 1874. A copy of this letter in Arabic is also present (f. 153).Enclosed with the letter is a list of debts (in Arabic and English) of named individuals.4 folios
The letter is informing the Shaikh of Bahrain that the balance of debts owed by and owed to the bin Rejubs [Bin Rajab] will be enquired into by the law courts of Bahrain. It notes that the final balance will be determined in three month's time. If this meets with the Shaikh's approval, the letter requests that he order an enquiry into the case. The letter includes an Arabic translation.1 folio
The letter is informing the Political Resident that the Shaikh of Bahrain has issued orders to detain Hajee Abbas bin Mahomed [Hājjī ‘Abbās bin Aḥmad] until his accounts have been inspected, as originally requested by Ibrahim bin Rujub [Ibrāhīm bin Rajab] in an address to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (see ff. 154-155).2 folios
This volume includes miscellaneous draft correspondence, as well as Internal Transit Permits, in English with accompanying Arabic and Persian (with the presence of
siyāqaccountancy script) translations from 23 May 1870 (21 Ṣafar 1287) to 14 March 1872 (4 Muḥarram 1289).The letters are between the British Residency in the Persian Gulf at Bushire, during Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Pelly's residency, and various correspondents, most prominent among them are:British native agents: Hajee Abdul Rahman [Ḥājjī ‘Abd al-Raḥmān], British Agent at Sharjah; Hajee Mahomed Bushir [Ḥājjī Muḥammad Bushayrī], British Agent at Lingah; Mirza Hassan Ally Khan, [Mīrzā Ḥassan ‘Alī Khān], British Agent at Shiraz;Persian officials: Mirza Mahomed Khan [Mīrzā Muḥammad Khān], Governor of Bushire; Hajee Ahmed Khan [Ḥājjī Aḥmad Khān]; Governor of Bandar ‘Abbās; Persian Slave Commissioner;Rulers: Shaikh Esau ben Alee ben Khalifah [‘Īsá bin ‘Alī Āl Khalīfah], chief of Bahrain; Shaikh Mahomed ben Tanee [Muḥammad bin Thānī], chief of Gutter [Qatar]; Syed Toorkee ben Syed Saeed [Sayyid Turkī bin Sayyid Sa‘īd], Sultan of Muscat; Shaikh Zayed ben Khuleefah [Zāyid bin Khalīfah], chief of Aboo Thabee [Abu Dhabi];Others: Hajee Moosa Maymanee [Ḥājjī Mūsá Maymanī], Bushire / British Indian subject; Ebrahim ben Yusuf [Ibrāhīm bin Yūsuf], merchant at Lingah; Nassir ben Rashed Hyderabady [Nāṣir bin Rashīd Ḥaydarābādī]; Ebrahim ben Mohsen Rajab [Ibrāhīm bin Muḥsin Rajab], merchant at BahrainGeneral subjects covered throughout the volume include of relations between the British Residency at Bushire and the Persian government; communications with their native agents, local rulers and merchants on both littorals of the Persian Gulf; relations with other powers including the Wahhabis and the rulers of Najd, the Sultanate of Oman and the Persians; the status and claims of British India protected subjects; trade, exports, imports and customs; preservation of the maritime peace; pearling issues; and slavery cases. The volume also covers the period directly after the attack on Bahrain by Muḥammad bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah and Nāṣir bin Mubārak Āl Khalīfah, and the murder of ‘Alī bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah, ruler of Bahrain in 1869 (ff. 187r, 188r); Ottoman reconquest of Eastern Arabia (ff. 116r and 75-71); Great Persian Famine (ff. 77r, 51v).Specific events and details include: relations between Qatar and Āl Na‘īm tribe (f 167v); intelligence gathering from native informants (f. 153v); transportation of books for Reverend Robert Bruce to Persia (ff. 126v, 130v); vessels arriving in the Gulf for the purpose of surveying operations (f. 99r); sanitary conditions in the town of Bushire and quarantine arrangements (ff. 88-89); opening for the position of second munshi at the Bushire Residency (f. 87r); decrees concerning export and storage of grain (ff. 58r, 56r, 55v); posting of Major Sidney Smith, Assistant Resident, to Bahrain; Persian Telegraph Department; and an appeal from Jewish poor of Bushire for aid (f. 31v).Miscellaneous notes in Persian appear on folios 1, 193v and 194r. There are inserted folios of Persian and Arabic documents on folios 141, 137, 124, 69 and 3. A stamp reading 'Received - Political Department' dated 4 December 1907 appears on folio 1r with 'from Mr Wollaston on retirement' written below in pencil.1 volume (195 folios)The volume is arranged from right to left with the earliest correspondence appearing on folio 193r and the latest on folio 2r. Both the recto and verso of the folio are divided into a grid with the English appearing in the right hand column and the Arabic or Persian appearing in the left hand column, although there are exceptions where the Arabic or Persian appears in the right hand column and the English appears in the left hand column (for example, folio 168r). Writing in purple ink appears over some of the English text as a post-script or note (for example, folio 174v), as does the word 'Cancelled' in black ink or a note in purple ink (for example, folios 105r and 86r). The letters in this volume are numbered, running from 46 to 308 for the year 1870 between folio 193r and 132v; 1 to 536 for the year 1871 between folio 132r and 25r; and 1 to 100 for the year 1872 between folio 24r and 2r. Between folios 30r and 26v there are some unnumbered letters. There are inserted folios of Persian and Arabic documents on folios 141, 137, 124, 69 and 3.Foliation: The foliation number is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the first folio after the front cover, on number 1, and ends on the recto of the back cover at number 194.
Letter in Arabic, with English translation, from Syed Majid [Sayyid Majid bin Said Al-Busaid] to Ameer Abdullah [Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki al-Saud].The letter discusses Ameer Abdullah's ownership of the Arab coastline of the Persian Gulf, and stating that Guttur [Qatar] does not belong to them, but instead is subject to the Rulers of Bahrein [Bahrain]. The letter goes on to give the history between the rulers of Bahrain and the al-Saud's from 1197 (1783) onwards focusing especially on Faisal bin Turki al-Saud, his relationship with the rulers of Bahrain and arrangements for receipt of payments of tributes.The letter itself is not dated, however the events referred to within it occured in 1870.The letter is addressed to Colonel Lewis Pelly as he was acting as intermediary in negotiations between the two parties at the time of writing.3 folios
Letter in Arabic, with English translation, from Shaikh Zayid ben Khalifeh [Zayid I bin Khalifa Al Nahyan], Chief of Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi] to Lewis Pelly, dated 19 Ramadhan 1287 (13 December 1870) and received by Pelly at Bushire 19 December 1870.Letter regarding the Ghobaysat [Qubaisat] tribe who had departed Aboothabee, but had settled and begun to build at Odaid [Al ‘Udayd] and informing Pelly that as his territory extends from Nakee-ul-Hejare [Nakhl, Hajar] to Aghnaz he cannot permit them to claim this area and settle there as it falls within his jurisdiction.The letter goes on to request permission to breach the peace at sea in order to retake Odaid and informing Pelly that he does not wish the tribe to settle at Odaid as they will cause great disturbances and will most likely commit breaches of the peace at sea.2 folios
This file contains correspondence to/from three British Residents at Bushire, Captain James Felix Jones, Captain Herbert Frederick Disbrowe and Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis Pelly.A number of topics are discussed in the file, most prominent among them are the following:Relations between Britain and Bahrain;A blockade of Kutiffe (Al-Qatif);Military action taken by Bahrain against the Chief of Wukra;The mis-treatment of Indian British subjects in Bahrain.On folios 2-6, the file contains copies in English and Arabic of the Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship (1861) signed by Sheikh Mahomed ben Khalifeh [Shaikh Muḥammed bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah] on behalf of himself and his successors and Captain James Felix Jones on behalf of the British Government.On folios 136-140, the file contains a translation of an agreement proposed by Houssein Ali Mirza, the Prince Regent of Fars in 1822, that Lieutenant William Bruce is said to have agreed to without permission of the British Government.1 volume (183 folios)Foliation: The file's foliation sequence is written in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the title page, on number 1, and ends on the last folio before the back cover, on number 183. Foliation errors: f 101 is followed by f 101A; f 107 is followed by f 107A; f 111 is followed by f 111A; f 115 is followed by f 115A.
Letter in Arabic, with envelope, to Thuwaini bin Said al-Said, Sultan of Muscat. The letter is most likely from Lewis Pelly, as folio 16 contains a letter to Pelly from His Highness.The letter is most likely written sometime between 1863 and 1865 as Lewis Pelly only commenced his position as Political Resident in the Persian Gulf in mid-1862 and Thuwaini bin Said was killed in February 1866.2 folios
Letter in Arabic from Thuwaini bin Said al-Said, Sultan of Muscat.The letter is most likely written sometime between 1863 and 1865 as Lewis Pelly only commenced his position as Political Resident in the Persian Gulf in mid-1862 and Thuwaini bin Said was killed in February 1866.1 folio